Brothers in Crime: Realms of Carminba, #2

By Nathalia Books

Katherina Shea has a dream to become the first-ever police woman. And when her father's police unit faces a serial killer, she gets the chance. Will she figure out who the murderer is? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purpleheart Publishing
• Release date: Oct 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201329860

Nathalia Books

Nathalia Books is a real dreamer and turns these dreams into stories. Each with their own world and charm, she prefers to write all day long, and she loves to forget the world around her. Her worlds take you to deserted places and new unknown cities. She introduces you to new unknown races and beliefs.

Book preview

Trigger Warnings

This story contains , bulling and cursing.

Murder of Three

With a deep sigh, Katherina looked out of the window. The cobbled streets were still drenched with the remnants of the heavy rains, that had fallen an hour ago. She was in her 'Ivory Tower' as she called it, it was actually her bedroom. The fire in the fireplace crackled softly and filled the room with a pleasant warmth. There was a close book in her lap filled with boring and mindless poetry, something her mother thought she should read. If she wanted to be a respectable lady, that is. She sighed again, it was getting late, and her father was not home yet. Which probably meant that she needed to face her mother alone, something she wasn't looking forward to. There was a knock at the door, there was no waiting for the door to open, and an elderly woman entered the ivory tower.

Miss Katherina, your mother wants to see you. The voice of Governess Mathilda echoed through the door. Katherine closed her eyes.

That's a shame, I don't want to see her. Katherina replied. She opened her eyes and pulled her eyes away from the rain-stained windows, turning her attention to the woman whose gray eyes felt cold.

Miss Katherina, you know better. When your mother calls, you will come. Governess Mathilda said stern.

Like one of her lapdogs? Katherina snapped at her. The woman nodded and Katherina shook her head. If mother has something to say to me, she will come to me. I'm not a Pomeranian, I'm her daughter. Katherina almost screamed at the woman. The woman sighed, and an uncomfortable look appeared in her eyes. Katherina almost felt sorry for the woman, almost. But the governess was a cold and strong woman who could take a beating.

Miss Katherina...  Governess Mathilda started.

Governess Mathilda, how long have you known me? Long enough to know I wouldn't change my mind. Katherina got up from her window seat and walked to the door where Mathilda still stood. I'm going to the station to see where Daddy is. She walked past Governess Mathilda with her chin up and walked down the newly polished wooden stairs, at the door she glanced around. But her mother was probably too busy with the many marriage proposals and invitations to various dances that were actually intended for her. Only more reason to flee the house as fast as she could. Katherina opened the door and breathed in the damp outside air.

KATHERINA TRIED HER best to avoid the many puddles, but that was almost impossible. The sweet spring wind played with her raven- black locks that hung loose on her back, to the horror of her mother and governess. But she didn’t care, it was her hair, and she wear it as she wants it. She passed a couple who bowed their heads reverently.

Good evening, Miss Katherina. Where is the journey going this time? The man said. Katherina gave the old man a smile.

You're asking me a question, Mister Wards. But you already know the answer. I'm going to the police station, my father is still there, and I want to know why. Katherina said. She bent her knees slightly and walked on.

That girl is completely out of control Mattew, she is now also all alone on the street. The woman said, behind her back.

Ah woman, times are changing and Katherina is the example of that. If I had a mother like hers I would flee the house too. Mister Wards said.

Mattew, Lois Shea is a respected member of the Ladies of Ioforte... Madam Wards started. Katherina couldn't hear the rest of the conversation, but she didn't have to guess the rest of the content. Yes, her mother may have been a respected member of the overgrown tea group, where all they gossiped about the absent members or talked about the latest news on the marriage market. Her mother tried to drag her to one of the meetings, once. She was glad that the police station was not far away from her house, and she would be in the presence of a person in this crooked community who understood her, or at least pretended to understand her. She entered the police station through a   dark chestnut door. She did not what to suspect, but the police officers were running all over the station like a group of angry bees. Some of them had something in their hands, a file in a yellowish folder, a few black and white photos. Katherina’s gaze went to her father, he was sitting at his desk as always, and several high-ranking officers were talking to him. Katherina made her way through the group of running police officers, who didn't notice or stop her. She was a familiar face in the station, and only a rookie might stop her and then be reprimanded by an older officer.

Edward this is the third already, I suspect we have a serious problem on our hands. One of the high ranking officers said. Katherina overheard the conversation and her heart began to beat violently. Now she really wanted to know what the hell was going on, from the tone in their voices and the look on their faces. She could tell that there was something big going on. A murder, perhaps, and from what she had caught, there were already three victims.

We still have no evidence that it is the same culprit, Officer Kent. Her father said with a loud and heavy voice. He was tired, and it started to show in his voice. Katherina was close enough to see the corkboard behind her father, which was filled with all kinds of pictures. She frowned for a moment, the names of the victims were written on yellowish paper; Jessica Simson, Nicolete Forster and Ingrid Collins. Katherina could not say that she knew the girls well, but all three came from the same circles as Katherina herself. It was astonishing that she had not heard about it, yet she saw something her father had missed. She strode over to her father's desk, and before he realized it, she grabbed a piece of paper and his crown pin. She clamped it to a wooden clipboard and stood in front of the board.

It appears that all three ladies were found near the lake bordering Queens Park. All three women have black hair, same build and were about the same age. The murders took place at night with a full moon. Father, I suspect this is indeed the same culprit. She turned and handed her notes to the first officer she saw. If I have looked closely at the photos. I conclude that the women were strangled first, before the culprit cut their throats with a special knife. Katherina pointed to a close up from one of the throats. She could see the markings of some kind of rope, just under the cut.

What kind of knife? An officer asked, turning back to the board and looked at the pictures of the wounds.

If I have to gamble, a small knife that doctors use for operations. But that is rightfully a gamble. Katherina replied. She had seen pictures of this kind of cuts before, and those looked similar to the once in the photo. Clean and straight. Her father put a hand on her shoulder and chuckled.

Leave it to my daughter to make use look bad. His voice still sounded tired, but was this time a bit more up beat. He slid his hand from her shoulder and turned. I want a doctor we trust to look at Miss Collin's body before we hand it over to her next of kin. Then we will, know it for sure, I also want police officers to watch that lake. It is possible that the perpetrator chooses his victims there.

Do that both in uniform and in plain clothes, if the culprit suspects that you are keeping an eye on the park, he or she will move the practices. Katherina joined him and her father nodded in agreement. She knew that it was not her place to give commands. But still she wanted to do all that she could do. Luckily the officers of this station listened to her, as if she was one of them. Only without the uniform, or the reward. The officers at her father’s desk mingled with the other officer in the busy beehive of the police station.

KAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING here? Her father asked. She sat on the desk and crossed her arms.

Are you really going to ask me that, I reached marriageable age last month and that is all mother can talk about. It is really going like this. Oh, here is an invitation from how knows. They have a son, quite the fallow. He would be a fine husband, mark my words. Katherina did not blow the whole thing up, and her father knew that. Her father started to groan.

Kat, your mom only wants the best for you. He said.

By linking me to the first and the best peacock with a good reputation and some money at the bank, money that he probably received from his father, but did not lift a finger for it himself. Katherina motioned with her hand through the whole station. These are the man who worked hard to get food on the table and a roof above their heads. But in her mother’s eyes they are not considered a good match. Her father groaned again, he had heard this several times. But was going to say it again. "Daddy, if I get married and that's a big if. Then it's with a man who makes his own money by working for it, just like you."

And it appreciates that you are pulling your weight around too. Her father said. Because you are not the type of woman, how is going to sit at home and attend boring tea parties. Katherina nodded. Of course